Safety Tips for Seniors Living Alone

Living alone offers seniors a lot of independence and the chance to preserve their dignity and space, but it can also be concerning from a safety standpoint. With the right help, though, a lot of those safety concerns can be reduced in advance. Home care assistance can be there for seniors when family caregivers can’t be, helping them with issues like fall prevention and making sure they have mobility support.

Look at Fall Prevention Plans

Falls are a huge problem for aging adults and they’re the most common cause of injuries for seniors. Seniors who live alone may be more prone to falls, especially if they have a lot of tripping hazards in their homes or have health issues that make them more likely to fall. Fall prevention plans involve checking the home for safety hazards and removing them. Seniors may also need safety devices, like grab bars in the bathroom or assistive devices like a cane or walker. Elder care providers can do quite a bit to help seniors to make sure their fall prevention plans work for them.

Prepare for Emergencies as Much as Possible

When seniors live alone, a sudden illness, natural disaster, or an emergency like a fire can be especially terrifying. Preparing seniors for emergencies can be as simple as putting together an emergency contacts list and an emergency kit. Home care assistance can help seniors to put together solid emergency plans and make sure that emergency kits stay stocked up. Seniors might also want to consider devices like medical alert devices that can call for help if necessary.

Boost Security at Home

Home security is another layer of safety concerns for seniors who live alone. Making sure that exterior doors and windows are secure is helpful, of course. Motion-activated exterior lighting improves visibility for seniors overnight and makes it more difficult for someone to sneak onto the property. If seniors are nervous about home security, they might want to consider having home care assistance available during the day and at night. This around-the-clock support can be helpful in so many areas of their lives, including helping them feel more secure in general.

Help Seniors Stay Active

When seniors live alone, they may be more likely to adopt a sedentary lifestyle, which can speed up muscle loss and other issues. Seniors who live alone may also be more likely to become isolated. Encouraging seniors to stay active and to make sure they’re reaching out to others on a regular basis can help. Elder care providers can work with seniors to develop routines that keep them busy, while also offering seniors companionship and hands-on assistance with tasks that are becoming more difficult.

Seniors can continue to live on their own for a long, long time, especially if they have the support they need from family caregivers and home care assistance. Aging in place successfully means that families need to pay careful attention to the safety issues seniors face so they can put solutions in place right from the start.

If you are considering home care assistance in Las Vegas, NV for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616